Costa Rica Introduction

Costa Rica is considered the "greenest" country in the world and therefore this beautiful Latin American country with its diverse fauna, flora and landscapes is one of the most popular destinations for eco-tourists. The country was also the pioneer in eco-tourism and ranks 44th and second among Latin American countries according to 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index.

Tourism

With a $2.2 billion per year tourism industry, Costa Rica is the most visited nation in the Central American region, with two million foreign visitors in 2008.

Airport

The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport is located near Liberia closest to the Pacific Northwest coast of Costa Rica. The airport has connecting flights to all major airports around the world such as Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Calgary, etc.

The Juan Santamaria Airport is located near the city of Alajuela and the capital of Costa Rica, San José.

Airlines

The following airlines have regular flights to Costa Rica:

• South African Airways (from Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban)
• British Airways (from Johannesburg & Cape Town)
• BMI (from Cape Town)
• Delta Airlines (from Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban)
• Emirates (from Durban)
• Iberia (from Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban)
• United Airlines (from Johannesburg & Cape Town)
• Virgin Atlantic (from Cape Town)

What to see / do

• Poas, Irazu & Arenal volcanoes
• La Amistad National Park
• Whale Marine National Park
• Helconia Island
• Canopy Tours
• Diving Safaris

Events

• Fiesta of the Diablos – A scene of colorful wooden mask and costumes with crafts sales, dances and fireworks.
• International Arts Festival – International theater, dance, concerts, exhibits.
• San José: Cattle Show with bullfights, rodeo and horse races etc.
• Limón Carnival: Week-long street dances, parades, concerts. It's "Mardi Gras" to a Caribbean beat.

General Info

Currency

The Costa Rican currency is the colón (₡) and bills come in 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 notes, while coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 and 100. Note that older coins are larger and silver, while newer ones are smaller and gold-colored – this is often a source of confusion for tourists.

Weather

Costa Rica has a tropical climate and is known to have two seasons, a dry season and a rainy season. December through April is generally known as the best time to visit Costa Rica because it is the dry season. The dry season in Costa Rica still gets rain, but less rain than the rainy season when it can constantly rain in some regions.

The annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 27°C, 20°C in Central Cordilera and as low as 10°C on the summits of the highest mountains.